Mid-Coast Chamber Orchestra to perform Brahms' works at Bates

The Mid-Coast Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Paul Ross, will perform an all-Brahms program at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 17, in the Olin Arts Center Concert Hall, 75 Russell St. The program, featuring solo performances by cellist Eleesa Collinson and violinist Matthew Szemela, includes “The Academic Festival Overture,” “Variations on a Theme of Joseph Haydn” and “Concerto in A Minor for Violin and Cello.”

Collinson began playing cello at age 8, and at age 13 studied with James Kennedy, principal cellist of the Portland Symphony Orchestra. A Mount Blue High School graduate, Collinson has been accepted at the Manhattan School of Music and is auditioning for further conservatory training.

Szemela began studying violin at age 3 and has studied with Ronald Lantz of the Portland String Quartet. He has soloed with the Maine Chamber Ensemble and the Kiev Chamber Orchestra, and won the 1996 Bangor Symphony Orchestra High School Music Competition. Szemela, who will graduate from Cheverus High School this spring, has been accepted at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, Mannes School of Music and the Julliard School of Music.

Tickets are $8/$4 at the door. Advance tickets are $7/$3 and may be purchased at Starbird Music Shoppe, Portland; Macbean’s Music, Brunswick; Gulf of Maine Books, Brunswick; and Carroll’s Music, Lewiston.

Founded in 1990, The Mid-Coast Chamber Orchestra is composed of 40 dedicated amateur and professional players. Chamber groups of members perform for schools and retirement communities as part of Mid-Coast Chamber Orchestra’s Music to Go program.